Press Republican - Stefanik Touts 'Independent, Bipartisan Record'

News Article

By: Cara Chapman and Suzanne Moore

Rep. Elise Stefanik kicked off her re-election campaign's Results Tour at the Clinton County Government Center Saturday.

Flanked by about 30 supporters, the congresswoman (R-Willsboro) recounted how she had made a promise when she ran in 2014 to offer new ideas and a new generation of leadership in Washington.

"I campaigned on a platform of more transparency and better government accountability for the people of the 21st District," she said.

"And two years later, I'm so proud to stand here and say that through hard work and a commitment to always putting the North Country first, we have kept that promise."

CHALLENGES

Stefanik expressed pride in her "independent, bipartisan record of results" on behalf of her North Country constituents.

She plans to carry that message to each of the 12 counties in the 21st District over this summer and fall.

Important challenges faced by this region, she said, include promoting economic growth and creating jobs, helping to support small-business owners, protecting veterans and those in the military, supporting farmers and the agriculture community, and delivering top-notch constituent services.

She gave credit to the great teamwork of local elected and commerce leaders.

"We are creating economic opportunity for our small-business owners, expanding vital trade partnerships with our friends across the border in Canada and delivering real results for everyone who lives, works and raises a family right here in Clinton County and across the 21st District."

Stefanik mentioned how, this past week, Plattsburgh was awarded a $10 million downtown revitalization grant.

"I know how hard our county, city and town leaders worked to secure this grant," she said.

BANK, INFRASTRUCTURE

In Congress, Stefanik said, she has fought for reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States "to promote our manufacturing and increasing trade and commerce with our Canadian partners," she said.

President Barack Obama signed that into law in December, according to the bank's website.

"Because transportation is vital, I fought hard for a long-term, fully paid-for transportation package that didn't raise taxes, and we won that fight," Stefanik continued.

She was referring to the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which aims "to improve the nation's surface transportation infrastructure, including our roads, bridges, transit systems and rail transportation network," according to a document on the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee's website.

Obama also signed that legislation in December.

"For the first time in over a decade, we have a five-year transportation bill," Stefanik said, "and that translates to jobs right here in this district."

FOUGHT FOR MILITARY

Most importantly, the congresswoman said, she has fought for the safety and security of servicemen and women from Fort Drum and worldwide.

"I'm proud to serve on the House Armed Services committee representing our brave men and women in uniform," Stefanik said.

"And I'm honored that (Friday), I was selected as the sole freshman to represent our district on the house committee tasked with finalizing critical legislation that supports our troops and protects them from devastating budget cuts."

The National Defense Authorization Act Conference Committee, which includes members from the House and Senate, was created to resolve differences over the act, according to Stefanik's website.

"I've also fought hard to help constituents with any problems they face with the federal government, whether it be recovering Social Security benefits and VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) benefits, (or) helping our VA heroes secure appointments with the VA."

To date, her office has been able to claim more than $750,000 worth of VA benefits owed the district's veterans, she said.

MORE WORK

Stefanik said her real results on these issues earned her the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award earlier this year for her "100 percent record of championing small businesses, which are truly the backbones of our communities."

She accepted that award in Plattsburgh.

But, she admitted, there is a lot more work to be done in Clinton County and the North Country.

"I will continue to offer new ideas to make government work better for you," Stefanik said.

"I'll be offering even more new solutions to ensure that we make it easier, not harder, to live, work and raise a family in the North Country."

'COVERS HER TRACKS'

Stefanik is opposed by Democratic Party candidate Mike Derrick and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello.

Derrick chuckled upon hearing the congresswoman talked about transparency.

"There's an enormous amount of frustration with the press," he said. "She's inaccessible. Doesn't engage with (the media) in real time -- that's not a tradition with North County politicians."

As for the transportation package, Derrick said, "we in this country have an enormous infrastructure deficit.

The five-year FAST Act, he said, is "too little too late (and does not) address needs of the North County."

Stefanik doesn't fit in with the North Country tradition of bipartisanship, Derrick added.

"She follows the party line because her future is tied to advancement in the Republican Party."

And, he said, "she has gone out her way lately to cover her tracks when it comes to veterans.

"This is the same person who two years ago advocated for privatization of the Veterans Administration.

"It must remain federal responsibility to take care of (military members) when they return -- it's counter intuitive (to privatize). It makes no sense to those of us who are veterans."

'IGNORES CLIMATE CHANGE'

Funiciello praised the congresswoman "for her work ethic.

"But that doesn't mean she is doing a good job for us," he continued. "Elise is serving the needs of those who put her in this position; those people are not the people of (Congressional District) 21.

"That's exactly why I'm running -- we need to change that role."

Funiciello called attention to what he called "her incredibly strange voting when it comes to the Environmental Protection Agency and environmental funding.

"The reality is you cannot protect that environment by continuing to let oil trains" roll through the North Country.

"Like all Congress," the Green Party candidate said, "she is not focusing on climate change -- it's not in Elise's mantra at all; it's not part of Mike Derrick's either."

Funiciello wants to see Americans in office who advocate for peace and seek to find common ground, not support military action to solve world issues.

"Instead of having world war ... why don't we actually give it a shot?"

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